Right Division: A Key Concept in Understanding the Scriptures

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 

rightly dividing the word of truth." (II Tim 2:15)

One of the fundamentals of the Christian faith is that the word of God must be rightly divided to be properly understood. This means understanding each passage so that it reconciles with the immediate context (line upon line) as well as the over-all biblical context (precept upon precept). Only when the meaning of a passage is reconciled to both considerations is it rightly divided. 

Apart from a right division, the bible's statements regarding the various facets of a number of biblical topics would be flatly contradictory. Right division resolves the "contradictions" that arise out of plain meaningism and establishes God's people in the bedrock truths of the Christian faith.

I submit for your consideration a few biblical topics that underscore the need for right division:

LAW must be rightly divided... 

- The Law of Sin and Death (Gen 2:17, Rom 8:2)
- The Law of Moses (John 1:17)
- The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ (Rom 8:2)  

WORLD must be rightly divided... 

- All men (John 7:4)
- All creation (John 1:10, 2nd world)
- Earth (I John 4:17)
- The Elect Only (John 3:16)
- The Non-Elect Only (John 17:9)  

SALVATION must be rightly divided... 

- From eternal damnation (Tit 3:5, Eph 2:1)
- From this untoward generation (Acts 2:40, I Peter 3:20, Jas 5:20)  

JUSTIFICATION must be rightly divided... 

- By the blood of Christ / by grace before God (Tit 3:7, Rom 3:24, 5:9)
- By faith in our conscience (Rom 3:28)
- By works before a watching world (Jas 2:24) 

SANCTIFICATION must be rightly divided... 

- Legally and positionally in Christ (Heb 10:10)
- Experimentally through obedience unto separation (II Tim 2:21)

This is by no means a comprehensive list, neither are subdivisions of each topic comprehensive, but I hope that it is sufficient to stimulate further study on the matter of right division. Understanding the various dimensions of these truths is the only way that one will avoid being hopelessly confused on these important biblical topics and numerous others.

For more on the errors that arise when right division is rejected in favor of plain meaningism check out the following short videos on my YouTube Channel.

Office Theology 108 - I John 2:2
Office Theology 109 - II Peter 3:9
Office Theology 111 - John 1:29
Office Theology 112 - Romans 3:11

So what is the gospel you ask?